[Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

Hi

I've installed conky on debian wheezy with XFCE 4.8 and conky is running with a black box, there is NO TRANSPARENCY.This is really strange and I didn't have this problem on squeeze or wheezy with Gnome and I'm using the same config file:

I encountered this problem: first,I don't use any composing. There is some kind of conflict between conky 1.8.1 with xfdesktop version > 4.8.1. So I installed xfdesktop-4.8.1 and lock this version. Make sure you don't have : export XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 somewhere.

You said that 'own_window_type normal' didn't work.How do you set up your wallpaper? Do you use something other than the desktop preferences?Also you can backup your conkyrc, then use only the settings from my file just to make sure you don't have anything interfering.If it works (as it should), then you start copying back your own settings until you find what's braking it (I think specially 'own_window_argb*' doesn't work in this case).

You said that 'own_window_type normal' didn't work.How do you set up your wallpaper? Do you use something other than the desktop preferences?Also you can backup your conkyrc, then use only the settings from my file just to make sure you don't have anything interfering.If it works (as it should), then you start copying back your own settings until you find what's braking it (I think specially 'own_window_argb*' doesn't work in this case).

Really sorry, I mean "own_window_type desktop" doesn't work and I've corrected my first posting.I'm using default XFCE desktop with some additional desktop launchers.I've tried your config, but must change "own_window_type desktop" to "own_window_type normal", otherwise it doesn't work (empty -> nothing displayed), but with "own_window_type normal" or "own_window_type override" I still get a black box.

With xfdesktop ver 4.8.1- with own_window_type desktop : transparent ok. But as soon as I click-drag (selection) on the desktop, the conky disapear (but still running)- with own_window_type normal : transparent ok. Windows movable. Appear only on current desktop (as expected)- with own_window_type override : transparent ok. Don't disappear when I select on desktop. Show on all desktop. No flickering

With xfdesktop ver 4.8.3- I have the same than above, except the transparency don't work : it take as background the wallpaper of login manager instead of xfdesktop one. (And get black background if I use autologin).- Here the screenshot of : xfdesktop 4.8.3, own_window_type override : http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8818/snapg.png

Conclusion : install xfdesktop 4.8.1

If someone can confirm this behavior, we can file a bug.

Last edited by angstrom (2012-02-28 17:10:19)

Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

I created an empty account and still have this transparency problem with xfdesktop 4.8.3 ....I think also that must not be xfdesktop bug. It's kind of who puts the wallpaper first, between xfdesktop and the login manager (mine is kdm 4.7.2) then conky use the wallpaper for his transparency.But how determine who fault here ?

Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

The feh tricks works for me, but it also fixes if I open the dektop parameter window (right click on the desktop) ...

By the way, if you want to put the "feh trick" in your conky startup script, you might want to query which image is used for your background (not to change your script each time you change your background), then use this:xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path

arbg (real transparency) works fine but needs the compositing on. It works with 'own_window_type' set to 'normal' (not 'desktop').

'own_window_transparent' works with 'fake' transparency (100% transparent background) without compositing when argb_visual isn't enabled. This works with 'own_window_type' set to 'desktop' too but then clicking&dragging on the desktop makes conky disappear.

So all-in-all window has to be set to 'normal' and real transparency (argb_visual) needs the compositing manager (as said in the manual).

arbg (real transparency) works fine but needs the compositing on. It works with 'own_window_type' set to 'normal' (not 'desktop').

'own_window_transparent' works with 'fake' transparency (100% transparent background) without compositing when argb_visual isn't enabled. This works with 'own_window_type' set to 'desktop' too but then clicking&dragging on the desktop makes conky disappear.

So all-in-all window has to be set to 'normal' and real transparency (argb_visual) needs the compositing manager (as said in the manual).

Thanks I have been having trouble with true transparency I missed the argb_visual bit it now works.Using xfce 4.10+compositingxfdesktop version 4.10.0Slackware64

i also have it working correctly on Debian Wheezy with XFCE 4.8, but on shutting down or logging off the transparency gets lost and becomes a black solid background for some seconds. do you have the same issue?

The feh tricks works for me, but it also fixes if I open the dektop parameter window (right click on the desktop) ...

By the way, if you want to put the "feh trick" in your conky startup script, you might want to query which image is used for your background (not to change your script each time you change your background), then use this:xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path